Labor Laws & Money Blog

WASHINGTON – The United States has invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to review whether workers at Newmont Corporation’s Minera Peñasquito, S.A de C.V. (Newmont Peñasquito), located in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods into this country from the Newmont Peñasquito facility, which produces gold, silver, lead, and zinc. The facility also imports auto parts into the United States.Today’s action demonstrates the Trump administration’s America First approach, which ensures our trade partners do not undermine worker protections to gain an unfair trade advantage or attract investment. The Secretary of Labor and the United States Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On May 13, 2026, the ILC received an RRM petition from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalúrgicos, Siderúrgicos y Similares de la República Mexicana (Los Mineros), a Mexican labor union. The petition alleges that Newmont Peñasquito has violated workers’ rights by retaliating against workers for engaging in union activity, including through unlawful dismissals. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.After conducting this review, the ILC determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms. As a result, the United States Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico that Mexico review whether workers at Newmont Peñasquito are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.The RRM, developed under the first Trump administration, is an unprecedented trade tool that works to level the playing field for American workers and businesses by addressing weak labor law enforcement in Mexican workplaces that compete in trade with the United States.     Read the request for review.Read the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury.View information about previous requests.Learn more about the department’s work to make global competition fair for American workers.

In the week ending June 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 229,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,000, an increase of 4,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 214,750.

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling advanced President Donald Trump’s efforts to strengthen the American workforce, support the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, and expand economic opportunity for American workers and businesses, while participating in the 2026 G7 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, Acting Secretary Sonderling promoted policies that support American workers and job creatorsthrough economic growth, workforce development, and stronger domestic industry. He championed the department’s Registered Apprenticeship program as a proven model for addressing workforce shortages and supporting reindustrialization efforts. Acting Secretary Sonderling encouraged international partners to combat foreign labor abuse and unfair trade practices that disadvantage American workers and businesses, emphasizing the need for fair global competition. The G7 Labor and Employment Ministers’ Meeting convenes the world’s leading industrialized nations to discuss labor market trends, workforce challenges, and policies that promote economic opportunity and growth,“As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, the U.S. remains committed to working with our trade partners to raise labor standards and combat unfair practices that hurt American workers and businesses,” said Acting Secretary Sonderling. “Through global workforce policies that expand opportunity, productivity, and fair competition, the U.S. will bolster domestic industry and ensure American workers and businesses can compete and win.”While in Geneva, Acting Secretary Sonderling convened a roundtable on workforce development and reindustrialization and held bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries’ governments to discuss shared workforce priorities, labor market challenges, and opportunities for cooperation that support American workers and job creators.Learn more about the department’s work to make global competition fair for American workers and businesses.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million in grant funding available to help states provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners.“Through our ongoing commitment to safety training, we achieved a historically low all-injury rate for mining last year. This latest investment demonstrates that we’re doubling down on our efforts to protect our nation’s hardworking miners,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The Department of Labor will continue to put American miners first by keeping them safe on the job, which will help advance President Trump’s mission to bolster domestic mineral production.”MSHA will award these grants as part of its fiscal year 2026 State Grants Program to fund the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners who work at surface, underground coal, and metal and non-metal mines throughout the U.S.State, tribal, and territorial governments are eligible to apply. MSHA may fund up to 80% of the program costs under a state grant. The grant recipient is required to provide at least 20% of the total program costs.MSHA recognizes state training programs are a key source of mine safety, health training, and education. The agency encourages state programs to use grant funds to prioritize training assistance for new and small mining operations, as well as to support a state’s broader health and safety training programs. MSHA also recommends that grantees develop or create training compliance assistance programs to assist operators who are extracting critical minerals, including coal, to support the President’s goal of increasing the discovery and mining of critical minerals. The agency also emphasizes training on miners’ statutory rights under the Mine Safety and Health Act.Grant applications must be submitted by Aug. 10, 2026, and will be awarded on or before Sept. 30, 2026.View 2026 State Grants Program funding opportunity.Learn more about MSHA. 

WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the May 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump and this Administration once again produced the best month of job creation since taking office, demolishing economists’ expectations. This Administration is proving the cynics wrong and American workers, families, and businesses are winning.The May Jobs Report overperformed on every level, adding 172,000 jobs and marking the third consecutive month of positive payroll growth. Thanks to President Trump, manufacturing jobs are up 25,000 in 2026 and construction jobs have increased by 71,000 since he took office – a true testament to this Administration’s priorities.Under the President’s leadership, American workers are seeing benefits in real time: rising wages, increased affordability, and over 903,000 private sector jobs added. The Department of Labor remains committed to advancing a bold, pro-worker agenda and will continue delivering for the American people.”